After 32 years of teaching in the Kivalliq region, Trudi Bruce is retiring come June.
SheSA国际影视传媒檚 been in the profession long enough that some of her former students now have children of their own attending Rankin InletSA国际影视传媒檚 Leo Ussak School, where Bruce is vice-principal.
Her daughter Kayla earned her bachelor of education degree and is teaching at Simon Alaittuq School in the same community.
SA国际影视传媒淚 was super proud,SA国际影视传媒� Bruce said of her daughterSA国际影视传媒檚 academic achievement and career path, adding that they periodically exchange thoughts and ideas about their work.
SA国际影视传媒淏ut ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to be honest, sometimes I feel like ISA国际影视传媒檓 learning more from her than she is from me,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪heSA国际影视传媒檚 very current and up to dateSA国际影视传媒� our conversations contribute to my professional growth and ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure they contribute to her professional growth as well. We have that in common so itSA国际影视传媒檚 fun to have those conversations.SA国际影视传媒�
She hopes Kayla finds her career just as fulfilling as she has, loving coming to work every day.
SA国际影视传媒淛ust being there in the classroom connecting with the students. The little kids are enthusiastic, itSA国际影视传媒檚 absolutely fun,SA国际影视传媒� Bruce said of her experience. SA国际影视传媒淚 have had the absolute pleasure of working with so many amazing teachers. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 kind of been a highlight, that collaboration and cooperation.SA国际影视传媒�
However, having witnessed some of her colleagues leave for other sectors, she said she wishes that her daughter will be SA国际影视传媒渇ully supported to ensure her successSA国际影视传媒� as a new teacher, in terms of class size and being provided adequate resources.
Her step-mother was also an educator, an influential figure she refers to as her SA国际影视传媒渋nspiration.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淪o thereSA国际影视传媒檚 three generations as teachers,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Stayed far longer than planned
BruceSA国际影视传媒檚 teaching career in the North began in 1991 after she earned her bachelor of education from the University of Manitoba. Her intention at that time was to spend 10 months in Rankin Inlet, but then she met the man who would become her husband and settled down to start her own family, although she spent time leading classrooms in Baker Lake and Coral Harbour as well.
SheSA国际影视传媒檚 admittedly observed a decline in Inuktitut over the past three decades. In the early 1990s, Inuktitut was the first language for many of her students. Today, she said itSA国际影视传媒檚 generally their second language.
SA国际影视传媒淚deally, it would be wonderful to have students speaking Inuktitut more,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
On the other hand, she said there are many Inuit educators at the school who are making important contributions.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 great to see this young generation coming in and teaching. TheySA国际影视传媒檙e very good at it and itSA国际影视传媒檚 exciting,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭o see that happening is amazing.SA国际影视传媒�
Bruce, who earned the Excellence in Teaching Award through the Nunavut TeachersSA国际影视传媒� Association in 2018, knows her life is going to change significantly when June rolls around and her retirement is official.
SA国际影视传媒淚 will admit ISA国际影视传媒檓 nervous because essentially all ISA国际影视传媒檝e ever done is go to school. I went right from high school to university, from university SA国际影视传媒� I was 23 years old SA国际影视传媒� I came up to Rankin Inlet and started teaching, so ISA国际影视传媒檝e never done anything but work in schools as a student and as a teacher,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
SA国际影视传媒淵esterday I was in the hallway and it was dismissal time. The bell went and the kids were all coming out into the hallway and itSA国际影视传媒檚 always just a little bit chaoticSA国际影视传媒� and I was standing there and what occurred to me was that ISA国际影视传媒檓 really going to miss this.SA国际影视传媒�
Her daughter has plans for her mom to come and volunteer in her classroom in the years ahead as Bruce will remain in Rankin Inlet.
Because she derives such joy from teaching others to read and write, she may volunteer to assist adults with upgrading those skills, she muses.
In her letter notifying her employer of her impending retirement, she wrote, SA国际影视传媒淭his job and this place has given me a wonderful life.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 definitely been a good ride,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
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